J.D. Paige (22) of the Colorado State Rams looks to pass the ball around Karachi Edo (4) of the Fresno State Bulldogs during a semifinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 11, 2016 in Las Vegas. (Jeff Bottari, Getty Images)

Colorado State’s 2015-16 men’s basketball season is over after the team declined invitations to the College Basketball Invitational and Vegas 16 tournaments, coach Larry Eustachy announced Monday.

“We appreciate the opportunities those tournament committees gave us in extending invitations, but it just is not in the best interest of the overall program,” Eustachy said in a news release. “We are excited for what this team can be next year and are going to start focusing on that after we give the players some time off.”

The Rams finished the season with an 18-16 record after losing to Fresno State in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament. CSU has enjoyed the program’s best four-year period during Eustachy’s time as coach, winning a record 87 games in that span for a record of 87-48.

Wyoming head coach Larry Shyatt, left, speaks with Riley Grabau, right, during a break in play as Wyoming faced New Mexico in a NCAA men’s basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie. (Ryan Dorgan, Casper Star-Tribune)

In advance of Wednesday night’s Mountain West Conference college men’s basketball battle between Colorado State and Wyoming in Laramie, Cowboys coach Larry Shyatt praised CSU.

“Where Colorado State is different than other teams is they are really blessed with being the best offensive team in the league,” Shyatt said.

Marcus Holt will return to the Rams next season. (Courtesy of Dan Byers, CSU athletics)

Marcus Holt will play next season at Colorado State after all.

The 6-foot-10 senior forward, a former Rangeview star, was granted a scholarship release from CSU in April, but after two months of consideration, he has decided to spend his final college season with the Rams, the school said in a statement Friday.

“After taking some time to think about my future, I have decided that I will be rejoining the Colorado State men’s basketball team,” Holt said in a statement. “I want to thank Coach Eustachy for his support and understanding throughout this entire process. I appreciate him keeping the door open and allowing me to come back. I have discussed this with my teammates as well and they have welcomed me back with open arms. I really look forward to finishing my career in the green and gold as well as completing my degree.”

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.